The coldest and harshest months of the year are fast approaching, but if early climate trends continue, it may not be as bad as recent winters in south central Iowa.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the latest three-month outlook from the National Climate Prediction Center indicates warmer than average conditions largely persisting in Iowa.

And while most of the drought was relieved locally, Glisan says near normal to possible below average precipitation will keep those dry conditions in place west of Interstate 35 for the foreseeable future.

A brief cooldown will begin on Christmas Eve later this week after daytime highs top 40 degrees today and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the freezing air expected over Christmas, above average warmth and below average precipitation chances will dominate until the calendar flips to January, according to Glisan.

Stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS for the latest winter weather information.